HaRav Boruch Shimon Schneersohn, Rosh Yeshiva of Tchebin
In honor of his yahrtzeit, 25 Sivan 5761/2001

The chinuch in Reb Boruch Shimon's parents' home was based on firm principles.

His mother, despite her intense love for her outstanding son, made sure never to kiss him when he was awake so that he would not become fussy and spoiled. Only at night when he was sound asleep would she allow her love to be expressed through a kiss on his forehead.

From Our Archives

Opinion and Comment Torah For The Taking, Torah For The Giving: HaRav Zushe Waltner Zt'l By Moshe Musman Introduction: A Gallery of Heroes The establishment of major Torah centers throughout the world, that perpetuate the great yeshivos of Eastern Europe, is one of the greatest contemporary miracles. This began over sixty years ago. It was wrought by a handful of great builders who single-mindedly, often alone and against the prevailing trend, created, from scratch, environments where spiritual growth could take place and Torah greatness worked for. The significance of their achievements lies not in the size of what they left behind them, for the most striking growth came later, but in its very existence. Because of their tremendous self-sacrifice, the foundations they laid have proven enduring and today support a larger-than- ever edifice. Among such men one might include founders of the powerhouses that have been raising Torah disseminators, authorities and legions of bnei Torah for fifty years and more, transplanters of specific approaches into new and foreign soil, and those who inspired thousands to turn from the profanity and materialism of the modern world and wholeheartedly embrace the timeless values that are our nation's pride. All of them, whether they built, transmitted, inspired, or did all three, effected genuine change. They breathed life into a nation's dry bones and infused soul into its spiritually wasted frame.

Opinion and Comment New York Jewry is Changing Fast by Mordecai Plaut A new study of New York City Jews released last week by the UJA-Federation of New York, and reported in our last issue, found that the number of Jews in the greater New York City area has remained constant from 1991 to the time the current study was made in 2002. Actually the press release says that the New York Jewish population is "stable," but the truth is that the similarity in the overall number that is emphasized conceals a tremendous amount of internal change. There may be 1.4 million Jews in the New York area but they are quite different from the 1.4 million Jews who were there just eleven years earlier. (The current study was performed in 2002 and the previous one in 1991.)

Opinion and Comment Leitzonus Against Us and For Us by Rabbi Nosson Zeev Grossman Part I Parshas Korach is a fitting opportunity to clarify what leitzonus is, when it is forbidden, and when it is permitted and when it is even a mitzvah. Of all the means the anti-religious have used against Torah observance, it seems to me that leitzonus was always the most dreadfully effective. When faced with any other means a person could protect himself in some way. But sarcasm is a deadly "non-conventional weapon" from which there is no escape. "Someone who drowns in [leitzonus] is as if he is drowning in the great ocean, and it is very difficult to escape" (Mesillas Yeshorim, chap. 5).